Call for Artists: Lethbridge Public Art Youth Engagement Pilot Project

Submission Deadline: December 6, 2024, 4:30pm MST

Photo credit: Lethbridge Public Art

The City of Lethbridge Public Art Program is inviting artists to participate in a Youth Engagement Pilot Project. The selected submission will receive a commission to coordinate a youth-led project to paint a pedestrian underpass located in West Lethbridge near the communities of Heritage Heights and Willow Park.

Public engagement is a participatory process that heightens a sense of shared responsibility and community. In context with public art processes, it harnesses the will of the people and utilizes the public as an important asset during the development and execution of a project.

Site and Safety Considerations

Due to the nature of working with a vulnerable population, several safety steps will be taken. The selected artist will be required to provide a Hazard Assessment compliant with Part 2 of the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code as well as an emergency response plan compliant with Part 7. The City has resources available to assist with this process and the Health and Safety department will review and approve of the plan prior to sharing the documents with guardians and caregivers for informed consent. Additionally, the successful applicant will be required to submit a criminal record check and a vulnerable sector check. These will need to be provided prior to any engagement work beginning with school attendees.

The pedestrian underpass itself is 87′ long and approximately 9′ high; given the space restrictions, the height can be lowered. The tunnel has several internal lights. On both sides of the underpass are two large, scalene triangles which are part of the project. See image above.

The site is accessible. The pedestrian underpass is 1.8 meters wide, with paved, sloping ramps leading into the underpass from both sides.

Background

The pedestrian underpass that has been identified for the pilot project is located on the westside of Lethbridge, near multiple schools and playgrounds. Because of the nature of the underpass, it is a site of frequent graffiti interventions and consideration for graffiti mitigation in the design (i.e. minimal negative space) is important. The pedestrian underpass is activated by walking and biking commuters throughout the year and connects the communities of Heritage Heights and Willow Park to four local elementary and junior high schools (Father Lord Van Tighem, St. Frances, Mike Mountain Horse, and St. Patrick’s Fine Arts).

Father Lord Van Tighem School (FLVT) has agreed to be a participant in this initiative and will assist in securing parental consent for underage participants and serve as a possible location for the engagement initiatives which will inform the design.

Budget

The total budget for the Youth Engagement Pilot Project is $60,000 + GST.

This fee will be inclusive of all project costs including not limited to:

• Artist Fees.
• General Administrative Expenses.
• All Materials.
• Shipping, delivery, and installation costs including any required equipment rentals, labour, site management and required permits.
• Any travel and accommodation expenses, including site visits and installation.
• Expenses associated with student engagement at both design and
  execution stages.
• Insurance, including general commercial liability insurance of not less than $2,000,000 from the commencement of the Artist’s services until written acceptance by the City of the artwork (as required).
• Preparation of a hazard assessment report and emergency response plan
  for installation.
• Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check fees for newly acquired checks. Previously obtained records can be used, provided they remain valid during the entirety of the project.
• WCB coverage or proof of exemption will be required.
• Contingency fee.

Eligibility

This competition is open to artists experienced in mural painting. Artists should have experience working with groups and/or have previous community engagement experience.

Project Timeline and Engagement Framework

Because of the nature of this project a minimum of four site visits is recommended, one for each stage outlined below. The windows outlined below for each stage of the project are not negotiable and should be taken into consideration when applying.

Stage 1: Engagement to inform Design

• January – February 2025
• During this phase, the selected artist will fulfill a full school engagement session at FLVT, which will produce visual and thematic information to be used throughout the remainder of the stages.
• Engagement should be a two-way process, where both artist(s) and school community are in dialogue around the potential outcomes of the mural.

Stage 2: Design Development and Presentation

• February – Early April 2025
• Artist/artist team will take the information provided by the FLVT engagement session(s) and create a proposed mural. Following the completion of the proposal, the artist/artist team will meet with the school community to unveil the design.

Stage 3: Student Artist Recruitment and Onboarding

• April – May 2025
• Establish and execute the process to recruit older students in the school to help install the mural.

Stage 4: Installation of Mural

• June 2025
• Mural must be completed by end of school year June 30, 2025.

Proposal Submission

Complete packages are to be submitted electronically to publicart@lethbridge.ca with the subject line, “Public Art – Youth Engagement Pilot Project” by 4:30pm (MST) on December 6, 2024. Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. Artists requiring further information are asked to forward inquiries to publicart@lethbridge.ca.

Download the full call and submission requirements here

Submission Deadline: December 6, 2024, 4:30pm MST

City of Lethbridge
910 4 Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 0P6
publicartlethbridge.ca
publicart@lethbridge.ca
403.320.0555